So we all know the story by now. An embattled Alex Rodriguez gets pinch-hit for by a 40-year-old Raul Ibanez in the bottom of the ninth in a 2-1 game. Ibanez homers to tie the game, A-Rod does his part by looking joyous, and then Ibanez hits another homer in the 12th inning, giving the Yankees a 3-2 victory. Good news, right? Ibanez is happy, A-Rod is happy, and Yankees fans are happy. Everyone is happy!

Except for Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant is not happy, despite the fact that he is a Yankees fan. From ESPN's Arash Markazi, who was apparently hanging out with Bryant last night:

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That is the most Kobeish thing Kobe Bryant could say about that game, and you have to admire him for doing it. He probably sees a lot of himself in A-Rod—an aging superstar who's still trying to cling onto his former greatness—and he knows that he would be pissed if anyone ever took the fate of a big game out of his hands.

Hate Kobe Bryant if you want, but at least he's internally consistent, and willing to stick up for his own.